The sight of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) bucking and playing up in his paddock has reassured the Lindsay Park team the weight-for-age star is perfectly on track for Saturday’s Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
A week ago, Mr Brightside was feeling the effects of his heroic first-up Gr.1 C.F. Orr Stakes win, but co-trainer Ben Hayes confirmed on Sunday the most durable gelding was back bouncing and ready to race.
“He’ll do a piece of work early this week and if we are happy, which I am 99 per cent sure we will be, he’ll be heading towards the Futurity,” Hayes said.
“All’s on track. (We’re) very happy with him. He came through the race no problems at all, and he’s been bucking in his paddock and feeling good.”
Mr Brightside is rated an even money chance by Sportsbet to add the Futurity crown to his growing list of achievements, after being beaten in the race 12 months ago by his currently injured arch-rival Alligator Blood.
Hayes said that while his Orr win proved to be a tough first-up assignment, it was hardly something that Mr Brightside had not seen before.
“It was interesting as first-up last prep, they actually went faster, and he came through that really well,” Hayes noted. “He’s a horse that just improves through his prep and he particularly does well two weeks between runs.”
Indeed, Mr Brightside ran a blistering 1.21.71s last spring in his first-up Gr.2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) victory and in the Orr earlier this month over the same course, he ran a time of 1.22.27s when nosing out Pride Of Jenni.
“He’s a fit, consistent horse who tries and so is exactly what every trainer wants,” Hayes said. “We are very lucky to have him.”
